Reactions between N2+ and N2

Apparent cross sections for the reactions $${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}+{\mathrm{N}}_2\to {\mathrm{N}}^{+}+\mathrm{N}+{\mathrm{N}}_2,$$ $${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}+{\mathrm{N}}_2\to {\mathrm{N}}_3^{+}+\mathrm{N},$$ have been measured for laboratory kinetic energies E of ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ between 1 and 45 eV. The primary ions are produced by electron bombardment and mass analyzed prior to reaction. The bombarding electron energy is varied from 19 to 90 eV, and the effects of excited, long-lived states of ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ on the reactions are studied. Both reactions proceed when ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ is in long-lived excited states and when ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ is in the ${\mathrm{X\hspace{0.17em}}}^2{\Sigma }_g^{+}$ and/or ${\mathrm{A\hspace{0.17em}}}^2{\Pi }_u$ states. When $\text{E≲15\hspace{0.17em}}\mathrm{eV}$ , Reaction (1) proceeds primarily from long-lived states of ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ about $\text{8.5±1.5}\mathrm{eV}$ above the ground state. There may be several long-lived excited ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ states involved in the production of ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}_3^{+}$ at low E, and some or all of these states may be involved in long-lived emissions which have been previously observed. A survey of the available information on ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ suggests that detailed comparisons with theory will be seriously hampered by uncertainties in the production and lifetimes of the various states of ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ .